Pressure-controlled pump for musical instruments



T. F. CHEEK.

PRESSURE CONTROLLED PUMP FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION men SEPT-M5. ma. 1,303,029, Patented May 6, 1919.

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mam/f0 We gagz $1 Ar Gite (mug T. F. CHEEK. PRESSURE CONTROLLED PUMP FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. APPUCATSQN FILED SEPT-15. I916- 1,303,029. Patented May 6, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

IIVVE/VTOR ATTORNEY T. F. CHEEK.

I PRESSURE CONTROLLED PUMP FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

' APPLICATION FILED SEPT-15, I916.-

l,303,029. I Patented May 6, 1919.

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PRESSURE CONTROLLED PUMP FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. APPLICATION FILED SEPT- I5. I9I6.

1,303,029. Patented May 6, 1919.

i 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4- bodying my improvements.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TOLBERT F. CHEEK, OF LYNDHURST, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO PHIL-HAR-CHEE PIANO PLAYER CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

PRESSURE-CONTROLLED PUMP FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Patented May 6, 1919.

Application filed September 15, 1916. Serial No. 120,304.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, TOLBERT F. CHnnK, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Lyndhurst, Hudson county, State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Pressure-Controlled Pumps for Musical Instruments, of which the following is a specification. I

My invention relates to pneumatic player for musical instruments and has for its obj ect chiefly to provide a device for maintaining a constant pressure in the wind chest under variable amounts of opening at the tracker board and thus efiecting an automatic control of the pressure, and another feature of my invention consists of a novel arrangement of parts for the compact and efficient construction of a pump for operating pneumatic devices. Other features of my invention will appear from the detailed description hereinafter given, and the scope of my invention will be indicated in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompany ing drawings in which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic elevation of a portion of a pneumatic player for musical instruments cm- Fig. 2 shows, upon an enlarged scale, an outside View of the controlling device proper. Fig. 3 illustrates the said controlling device in vertical section. Fig. 4 is a vertical section of my improved pump taken on line 44-4 of Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a rear view of said pump with the back thereof removed. Fig. 6 is a partial vertical section on line 6-6 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a front view of the pump. Fig. 8 is a 7 horizontal section on line 88 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 9 is a horizontal section of the controlling device on line 99 of Fig. 2. Fig. 10 is a vertical section of said device on line 1010 of Fig. 2 and Fig. 11 is a detail sectional view of a portion of the wind chest and its connections.

In Fig. 1, I have indicated at 20 the customary tracker over which moves the perforrated music sheet 21 and from which air conduits 22 extend to the action chest 23 controlling the motor pneumatics 24 in any well known or approved manner, said chest being connected by a trunk 25 with a wind chest 26 having receivers 27. These parts may be of any approved construction and have been shown only for the sake of commechanism is not essential to my invention,

that is to say, the device may be operated without any pedal mechanism.

The wind chest has an opening 26 (see Fig. 11) controlled by an outwardly opening flap valve 26 and when said valve is opened the wind chest 26 communicates with a small chamber 28 from which pipes or conduits 29 and 30 lead to the pump and to the automatic controlling device respectively. The pump is provided with a back 31 adjacent to which there are two chambers 32 and 33, extending side by side from top to bottom and separated by a partition 34 which is interrupted at one point 34' to form a seat for a valve 35 located in the chamber 32 and opening toward said chamber. A spring 36 tends to close the valve 35 and thus to disconnect the compartment 32 from the compartment 33. The latter compartment is in permanent communication with the pipe 29 and also has connections 33 at top and bottom communicating with pas-- sages 37 in stationary boards or members 37. From each of the passages 37, ports 37 controlled by flap valves 38 (provided with springs 39 of usual character) lead to the interior of bellows 40, the movable end members of which, 40, are provided with ports 40" adapted to open to the outside air when the outwardly opening flap valves 41 (provided with springs 41) are unseated. There are four movable bellows members 40 arranged in pairs on opposite sides of eachof the stationary members 37 and the two members 40 of a pair are connected by links 42, the ends of which are pivoted to the respective boards or members 40. The two innermost movable members 40 are connected pivotally with rods 43,'-the other ends of which are pivoted to cranks 44 and 44 secured to the drive shaft 44. Preferably the two cranks 44 and 44 are set at 90 from each other. The shaft '44 is driven in any suitable manner as by means of a belt applied to the pulley 45 and generally the motive power is supplied by an electric motor. In the neighborhood of the horizontal plane containing the channel 37 each of the stationary members 37 is provided with two of the channels 46 adjacent to the chamber withthe pipe 30 mentioned above.

or compartment 32 are normally closed by flap valves 48, pressed toward said channels by springs 49.

The controlling device, shown particularly in Figs; 1, 2, 3, 9 and 10, comprises a stationary casing- 50,'the chamber 51 of which is permanently in communication saidchamber a channel 51 leads to the interior of a bellows 52 which a spring 53 tends to keep in the open or expanded position. The connnunication between the chan nel 51 and the bellows 52 is preferably made through a perforation in a disk 52 se cured at the bellows end of said channel.

The movablemember-'52 of said bellows is provided with an opening. 53 adapted to place theinterior of the bellows in communicat'ion with the outside air when the valve 54 is open. This valve'is provided with a projectingspringmember for a purpose to be stated hereinafter. The chamber 51 is provided with-an upperf valve seat 56 ;on which is adapted-to rest the vertically movable piston valve 57. 111' the position illustrated' by Figs. 3 and lOsaid piston valve is down' and opens atommimication between aport 50 leading-to theoutside air and a channel 50, leading to the interior of a bellows 58; The movable member 58' of this bellows-is connected with a rod 59 provided" with a knob 60 adaptedto engage the spring 55 mentioned above. Atthe bottom; of the chamber 51 is adiaphragm 61 normally out of'engagement with a knob 57 provided at the lower endof the rod to which the movable piston valve 57 issecured. Under this diaphragm there is a small chamber 62 connected by ableeding channel 62 with the main chamber 51 so as toequalize the pressure on both sides of .the diaphragm. From the lower chamber 62a duct 63 leads to a port 63 which in theposition shown in Fig. 2, isclosed by a valve 64 pivoted at 64. The movable member 52 of the bellows 52 is connected with the valve 64" by a rod 65 which slides in a suitable guide 66 on said movable member and is provided with an adjustable knob 65 adapted to be engaged by said guide when the bellows 52 is collapsed andis also provided with another adjustable knob 65 adapted to be engaged by the guide 66 during the expanding movement'of'the bellows 52.

l/Viththe movable member 58 ofthe bellows 58.is connected, a link 67 Fig. 1, ex-

The purpose of From tending to a lever 68 fulcrumed at 68, the other armor said lever being connected with a rod 69, the end of which is secured to the valve 35.

In some cases I may employ certain additional parts indicated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3,

said parts comprising an additional channel 70 leading from the lower chamber 62 and connected with a pipe 71, the upper end of which is normally closed by a valve 72 within easy reach of theoperator and by swinging said valve laterally on its pivot 72?, the

outside air may be admitted to the pipe 71 rotated, say, by an electric'motor the movable bellows members 40 will be swung up.

and down on their pivots or hinges, the valves 38 openinginto the bellows every time said movable members move awayfrom the stationary members 37 while the valves 41 open every time the movable members move toward the respective stationary mem-- bers 37. The operation ofthe bellows therefore will withdraw air from chamber 28 by exhaust or suction through the channels 37 ports 33 to chamber or compartment 33 and the pipe 29, the suction within'the' chamber 28 causing the valve 26" to open so that the proper degree of vacuum is produced in the wind chest 26. The valve 351s closed as shown in Fig. 5. The vacuum existing in the wind chest 26 will causea similar vacuum in the act on chest 23 so as'to actuate the mot0rpneumat1cs'2e m the usual manner whenever a perforation of the musicsheet 21 registers with a perforation of the tracker 20. The vacuum will also becommunicated through the pipe '30 to the chamber 51 of the controlling device. VV'hen a great many perforations of the music sheet register with the tracker bar at the same time or inquick succession, a comparatively large amount of air will be drawn in through the tracker bar and the vacuum in the wind chest will be IQClHCQClCOIIGSPOIldingly, but the pump is of sufficient capacity to keep the vacuum of proper strength so as to play in the desired manner. 53 is of such power as to keep the bellows 5'2 expanded under the suction conditions existing at the time the instrument 1s playing loud owlng to the fact that alarge number of perforationsin the tracker 20 are open at the same time. If, however, only afew The springnotes should be played at one time, the.

pump, which'operates at a practically uniform speed; (and therefore constantcapacity or duty per unit of time) will draw the air in such a manner as to produce a vacuum of higher degree in the wind chestand in the chamber 51 connected thereto and this vacuum will become so strong. as to overcome the resistance of the spring 53, causing the bellows 52 to collapse. As this movement occurs the guide 66 will come in contact with the knob and will swing the valve 64 on its pivot 64 so that finally the port 63' will be opened to the atmosphere. Whenever atmospheric pressure is thus admitted to the chamber 62 the vacuum existing in the chamber 51 will cause the diaphragm 61 to move upwardly thus lifting the lower member of the piston valve 57 from its seat 56 and bringing the upper member of the piston valve against the opening 50 so as to close the latter. The interior of the bellows 58 is then in communication with the chamber 51 through the passage 50 and the suction of the pump will cause the bellows 58 to collapse. During this movement the knob 60 will strike against the spring 55 and cause the valve 54 to open, thus admitting the surrounding air to the interiorof the bellows 52. The piston valve 57 will then drop to its former position shown in Fig. 3 and the bellows 58 will .resume its expanded condition, it bein understood that said bellows is prefera ly provided with a spring 58" similar to the spring 53. The spring 36 also tends to ex-.

pand the bellows 58, through the connection 69, 68, 67 Whenever the bellows 58 is collapsed, the pull on the rod 67 will result in a push on the rod 69 and open the valve 35. When this occurs the vacuum produced by the suction of the pump in the chamber 33 will also be exerted in the chamber 32 and a portion of the air will be circulated through or within the pump itself, that is to say, the air passing from the chamber 33 through the ports 33 and into the interior of the. bellows 40 will partly return from said bellows through the channels 46 and the valve 48 to the compartment 32 from which it passes through the opening 34 into the compartment 33 and back to the suction ports 33 of the pump. Thus a portion of the air set in motion by this pump will simply circulate within the pump and the degree of vacuum produced by the pump under these circumstances in the wind chest 26 will be much less than it is when the entire capacity of the pump is employed to suck air out of the wind chest. I therefore obtain automatically a varying volume of sound in the playing of the music, each note being struck with practically the same force, and the instrument therefore playing with a great volume of sound when a comparatively large number of notes occur at the same time or in quick succession, where as a softer playing that is to say, a smaller volume of sound is obtained automatically whenever there are only a few notes at the same time or in quick succession. It. may be desirable for the performer to secure soft playing at will and not only automatically as described above. lVhen this result is desired, the performer will swing the valve 72 so as to admit atmospheric air to the pipe 71, the duct and the chamber 62, this having of course the same result as has been described above in connection with the opening of the valve 64. It will be understood that the latter valve is brought back to its normal position by the action of the guide 66 on the knob 65 near the end of the rod 65. The valve 7 2 will enable the performer to vary the expression, or loudness of play ing, irrespective of the number of notes which are struck at the same time.

'While I have described the pump driven by an electric motor or the like, as the sole means of producing a vacuum in the wind chest 26, it will be understood that if desired the usual pedal operated bellows might be employed for this purpose, the pump above described not being operated in that case. This is the reason I have shown the valve 26 which will close automatically whenever the vacuum in the wind chest26 is produced by pedal operated bellows and the pump above described is thrown out of operation.

I claim:

1. In an automatic player for musical instruments the combination of a wind chest, a pump connected with said wind chest and provided with a by-pass for allowing a portion of the air set in motion by the pump to circulate within the pump, a valve for closing saidby-pass, an automatic pressure controlling device having a chamber connected with said wind chest permanently, another chamber adapted for connection with the surrounding air, a valve controlling the connection of said second-named chamber with the surrounding air, means responsive to a change of pressure in the first-named chamber for operating the second-named valve, a movable wall separating said two chambers, pneumatically-operated means for moving the firstnamed valve, and a third valve operated by the movement of said wall for either connecting said pneumatically-operated means with the first-named chamber of the pressure COIltIOlllTlg device or disconnecting it therefrom.

2. In an automatic player for musical instruments the combination of a wind chest, a pump connected with said wind chest and provided with a by-pass for allowing a portion of the air set in motion by the pump to circulate within the pump, a valve for closing said by-pass, an automatic pressure controlling device having a chamber connected with said wind chest permanently, another chamber adapted for connection with the surrounding air, a valve controlling said two chambers, pneumatically-operated means for moving. the first-named valve, and a third valve operated by the movement of said Wall for connecting said pneumaticallyoperated means either with the surrounding air or with the first-named chamber of the 7 pressure controlling. device.

3. In an automatic player for musical instruments the combination of a wind chest, a pump connected with said wind chest and providedWit-ha by-pass for allowing a portion of the air set in motion by the pump to circulate within the pump, a valve for closing said by-pass, an automatic pressure controlling device having a chamber connected with said wind chest permanently, another chamber adapted for connection with the surrounding air, a valve controlling the connection of said second-named chamber with the surrounding air, means responsive to a change of pressure in the firstnamed chamber for operating the second-' named valve, a movable wall separating-said two chambers, pneLunatically-operated means- :for moving the first-named valve, athird valve operated by said movable wall. for either connecting said pneumatically-operated means with the first-named. chamber of the pressure controlling device or disconnecting it therefrom, and means operated by said pneumatically-operated means at the time the. latter opens the first-named; valve for causing, said pressure-responsive means to ClOSQ-f the second-namedvalve.

at. In an-a'utomatic player for musical instruments, the combination of a wind chest, a pump. connected with said windichest and provided'with a by-pass for allowing a portion: ofthe' air set in motion by the pump to circulate within the pump, a valve for closing said by-pass, an automatic pressure device having a chamber connected with said wind chest permanently, another chamber adapted for connection with the surrounding -air, a. valve controlling the connection of said second-namedv chamber. with the surrounding air, a normally expanded bellows communicating permanently with the firstnamed chamber of the pressure device, means operatedby said bellows for controlling the second-named valve, a movable wall separating the two chambers of the pressure device, a second bellows, means connected with said second bellows for operating the first named valve, and a. third valve, operated by; the said movable Wall, for either connecting said second. bellows with the first-named chamber of the pressure device or disconnecting it therefrom.

5.=.In an automatic player for muslcal inbellows communicating permanently with,

the first-named chamber of the pressure con trolling device, means operated by said bellows for controlling the second-named valve, a movable wall separating the two chambers of the pressure controlling device, a second bellows, means connected with said second bellows for operating the first-named valve, and a" third valve, operated by the said movable wall for connecting said second bellows either with the surrounding air or with the first-named chamber of the pressure device.

6. In an automatic player for musical instruinents the combination of a wind chest, a pump connected Wltll said wind chest and provided with a by-pass for allowing a 'portion of the air set in motion by the pump to circulate within the pump, a valve for closing said by-pass, an automatic pressure de-.

vice having a'cha-mber connected with said chest permz'inently, another chamber adapted for connection with the surrounding air, a valve controlling the connection of said second-named chamber withthe surrounding air, a normally expanded bellows cominunicating permanently with the first-- of the pressure device, means operated by said bellows for control-. ing the second-named valve, a movable'wa-ll named chamber separating the, two chambers of the pressure device, a second bellows, means connectedwith said second bellows for operating the first-named valve, a third valve operated by said movable wall for either connecting. said second bellows with the first-named chamber of the pressure device or disconnecting it therefrom, and means operated by the second bellows at the time it opens the firstna-med valve for causing said first bellows to close the second-named valve.

7. In an'automatic player for musical instruments the combination of a wind chest, a pump connected with said wind chest and provided with a by-pass for allowing a portion of the air set in motion by the pump to circulate within the pump, a valve for closing said by-pass, an automatic pressure device having a chamber connected with said wind chest permanently, another chamber adapted for connection with the surrounding air and connected with the first-named chamber by a bleeding channel, a valve con trolling the connection of said second-named chamber with the surrounding air, means rcsponsive to a change of pressure in the firstnamed chamber for operating the secondnamed valve, a movable wall separating said two chambers, pneumatically operated means for moving the first-named valve, and a third valve operated by the movement of said wall for either connecting said pneumatically operated means with the firstnamcd chamber of the pressure device or disconnecting it therefrom.

8. In an automatic player for musical instruments the combination of a wind chest, a pump connected with said wind chest and provided with a by-pass for allowing a portion of the air set in motion by the pump to circulate within the pump, a valve for closing said by-pass, an automatic pressure de vice having a chamber connected with said wind chest permanently, another chamber adapted for connection with the surrounding air, a valve controlling the connection of said second-named chamber with the surrounding air, means responsive to a change of pressure in the first-named chamber for operating the second-named valve, additiOnal means under the control of the operator for admitting the surrounding air to said second-named chamber when desired, a movable wall separating said two chambers, pneumatically-operated means for moving the first-named valve, and a third valve operated by the movement of said wall for provided with a by-pass for allowing a portion of the air set in motion by the pump to circulate within the pump, a valve for closing said by-pass, an automatic pressure device having a chamber connected with said wind chest permanently, another chamber adapted for connection with the surrounding air, a valve controlling the connection of said second-named chamber with the surrounding air, means responsive to a change of pressure in the first-named chamber for operating the second-named valve, a movable wall separating said two chambers, pneumatically-operated means for moving the first-11amed valve, and a third valve operated by the movement of said Wall and having two connected members one of which opens or closes the communication between said pneumatically-operated means and the first-named chamber of the pressure device while the other member of said third valve closes or opens the communication between TOLBERT F. OHEEK.

Copies of this potent may be obtained for he cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G." 

